Diplo and Switch with Major Lazer (Photo courtesy of: http://www.highsnobiety.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/mad-decent-iphone-app-540x431.jpg)
Biography: Major Lazer is a collaborative music group created by Djs, Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz) and Switch (Dave Taylor). The two met after working with the singer, M.I.A, and the band was created later to make their first CD, Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do on June 16, 2009. The band’s name comes from a fictional story created by the producers. Major Lazer is the name of a Jamaican commando cartoon character that lost his arm in a zombie war in 1984. He also fights other monsters like vampires and rides on a hover board.
Discography: Albums
Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (2009)
Major Lazer's first CD (Photo courtesy of:http://ashoutinthestreet.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/major-lazer.jpg)
Mixtapes:Lazerproof (with La Roux) (2010)
Major Lazer's first mixtape (Photo courtesy of: http://idolator.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/LazerProof-mix-tape-La-Roux-Major-Lazer-Diplo.jpg)
Singles:
"Hold The Line" (2009)
Cover for Major Lazer's Hold the Line single (Photo courtesy of: http://www.boysnoize.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/hold-the-line-web2.jpg)
"Zumbi" (2009)
"Pon de Floor" (2009)
"Keep It Going Louder" (2009)
"Jump Up" (2009)
"Click Click" (featuring Eva Simons) (2010)
Characteristics of the musical style:
Major Lazer’s music can really only be described as electronic Jamaican dancehall music. The Jamaican aspect comes from the location of the band’s first recording, which was in Jamaica. The electronic aspects come from both DJ’s previous work and interests in the electronic and techno genre. The music is loaded with interesting computerized beats, vocals from Jamaican artists as well as other artists like, M.I.A. and television star, Andy Milonakis; and even noises from cell phones, horses, and babies (Baby feat. Prince Zimboo) are thrown into the mix. The music is definitely modern with its techno backgrounds but still has the dancehall elements to even out the songs and make them unique to what is out on the radio now. A great song example that shows this is Hold the Line feat. Mr. Lex and Santigold. The song is packed with electronic beats and noise clips of females giggling and horses neighing as well as music that remind me of a 70s or 80s surfing video. Mr. Lex pairs well with non-Jamaican singer, Santigold and the overall dancehall elements are quite clear. A good example of a simple Jamaican dancehall song is Can’t Stop Now feat. Jovi Rockwell and Mr. Vegas which has a good reggae beat.
Critical evaluation:
The band is definitely new and quite different from what is being played on the radio nowadays. The band members have branched out creating never before thought of songs with dancehall elements as well as modern electronic ones as well. The featuring of many different artists creates a nice difference with each song making so that the songs don’t get to similar and boring. The mood of each song does seem to differ, especially with the different beats in the background, but the lyrics seems to stay based around talking about dancing or male and female relationships. There are a couple different ones though, like Zumbie (feat. Andy Milonakis) which talks about zombies. I think the overall uniqueness of the band will help it create more albums but its staying power is questionable since it doesn’t seem to be gaining as much popularity as other radio artists out there.
Why I like Major Lazer:
I enjoy listening to Major Lazer because they are a unique genre of music. There really isn’t another band like them. I enjoy Jamaican music like dance hall and reggae and I also like electronic music as well. The two together create a nice balance of modern-like music and ethnic vocals. I hope the band stick around and churns out many more CDs and singles, but I m afraid their low popularity may be the death of them.
Lyrics: Keep It Going Louder Lyrics
me and my friends rolling like rock stars, so we by the bar
all eyes on us, girls watching from far, we shining through the dark
saw this sexy little thing, she was biting her lips, looking at me hard,
so i just went over there and wispered in her ear, do you wanna start
girl i wanna party with you
girl i wanna party with you
ive got the grooves in the truck about six chicks deep
and you know cause we rolling to the streets at six
girl i wanna party with you
girl i wanna party with you
ive got the grooves in the truck about six chicks deep
and you know cause we rolling to the streets at six
Major Lazer
Biography:
Major Lazer is a collaborative music group created by Djs, Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz) and Switch (Dave Taylor). The two met after working with the singer, M.I.A, and the band was created later to make their first CD, Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do on June 16, 2009. The band’s name comes from a fictional story created by the producers. Major Lazer is the name of a Jamaican commando cartoon character that lost his arm in a zombie war in 1984. He also fights other monsters like vampires and rides on a hover board.
Discography: Albums
Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (2009)
Mixtapes: Lazerproof (with La Roux) (2010)
Singles:
"Hold The Line" (2009)
"Zumbi" (2009)
"Pon de Floor" (2009)
"Keep It Going Louder" (2009)
"Jump Up" (2009)
"Click Click" (featuring Eva Simons) (2010)
Characteristics of the musical style:
Major Lazer’s music can really only be described as electronic Jamaican dancehall music. The Jamaican aspect comes from the location of the band’s first recording, which was in Jamaica. The electronic aspects come from both DJ’s previous work and interests in the electronic and techno genre. The music is loaded with interesting computerized beats, vocals from Jamaican artists as well as other artists like, M.I.A. and television star, Andy Milonakis; and even noises from cell phones, horses, and babies (Baby feat. Prince Zimboo) are thrown into the mix. The music is definitely modern with its techno backgrounds but still has the dancehall elements to even out the songs and make them unique to what is out on the radio now. A great song example that shows this is Hold the Line feat. Mr. Lex and Santigold. The song is packed with electronic beats and noise clips of females giggling and horses neighing as well as music that remind me of a 70s or 80s surfing video. Mr. Lex pairs well with non-Jamaican singer, Santigold and the overall dancehall elements are quite clear. A good example of a simple Jamaican dancehall song is Can’t Stop Now feat. Jovi Rockwell and Mr. Vegas which has a good reggae beat.
Critical evaluation:
The band is definitely new and quite different from what is being played on the radio nowadays. The band members have branched out creating never before thought of songs with dancehall elements as well as modern electronic ones as well. The featuring of many different artists creates a nice difference with each song making so that the songs don’t get to similar and boring. The mood of each song does seem to differ, especially with the different beats in the background, but the lyrics seems to stay based around talking about dancing or male and female relationships. There are a couple different ones though, like Zumbie (feat. Andy Milonakis) which talks about zombies. I think the overall uniqueness of the band will help it create more albums but its staying power is questionable since it doesn’t seem to be gaining as much popularity as other radio artists out there.
Why I like Major Lazer:
I enjoy listening to Major Lazer because they are a unique genre of music. There really isn’t another band like them. I enjoy Jamaican music like dance hall and reggae and I also like electronic music as well. The two together create a nice balance of modern-like music and ethnic vocals. I hope the band stick around and churns out many more CDs and singles, but I m afraid their low popularity may be the death of them.
Lyrics:
Keep It Going Louder Lyrics
me and my friends rolling like rock stars, so we by the bar
all eyes on us, girls watching from far, we shining through the dark
saw this sexy little thing, she was biting her lips, looking at me hard,
so i just went over there and wispered in her ear, do you wanna start
girl i wanna party with you
girl i wanna party with you
ive got the grooves in the truck about six chicks deep
and you know cause we rolling to the streets at six
girl i wanna party with you
girl i wanna party with you
ive got the grooves in the truck about six chicks deep
and you know cause we rolling to the streets at six
Video:
Hold The Line
Sources:
http://www.answers.com/topic/major-lazer
http://majorlazer.com/
http://www.myspace.com/majorlazer
iTunes
Gif files courtesy of: http://www.facebook.com/notes/diplo/major-lazer-facebook-app-aim-icon-gifs-wallpaper/93774701661